Bang!
This time, Benbolly returned the ball at great speed, but as soon as it crossed the net, Irie intercepted it.
The shot had been heading straight for Yukimura, but Irie cut it off.
Then Irie glanced at Frio by the net, twisted his wrist, and sent a short crosscourt shot over.
Bang!
"Japan Team scores. 0–30."
"Oh? What flexibility in his wrist—and such precise control."
Irie's sudden change of shot had caught Frio off guard. The Spaniard wisely gave up on the ball rather than chase it recklessly.
In Japan's players' area, Muneyoshi watched Irie and Yukimura score one point after another and couldn't help chuckling.
"Looks like Irie and Yukimura have pretty good chemistry as a doubles pair."
"Their chemistry has a lot to do with your advice. Without your strong recommendation, Irie would surely have tried to claim the third singles spot."
Byōdōin picked up Muneyoshi's remark, then gave Saeki Muneyoshi a meaningful look.
None of them had expected Yukimura Seiichi to be such a good fit for doubles.
Meanwhile, Frio, the Spanish team's vice-captain, furrowed his brow.
Those two Japanese players really weren't as simple as he'd thought.
Now it came down to whether Benbolly could find their weakness. If he couldn't, they would have to bring out their full strength as soon as possible.
After two more probing attacks, Irie and Yukimura seized their chance and won the points decisively.
Bang!
"Game, Japan Team. The score is 1–0."
"Change ends!"
Irie and Yukimura relied only on their powerful fundamentals to handle Benbolly's attacks.
They revealed nothing in response to Benbolly's probing.
With the game over, the serve passed to Japan Team, and Benbolly and Frio switched positions.
Of the two, Benbolly was more skilled at the net.
His specialty was trick shots—almost like juggling—and